Nines Lives is a multivoiced biography of a dazzling, surreal, and imperiled city, told through the lives of nine unforgettable characters and bracketed by two epic storms: Hurricane Betsy, which transformed New Orleans in the 1960s, and Hurricane Katrina, which nearly destroyed it. Dan Baum brings this kaleidoscopic portrait to life, showing us what was lost in the storm and what remains to be saved. After you read the book, you can listen to the musical adaptation.

Why invest your time listening to this music?

New Orleans is one of the most unique stories in the United States. And the makes for great background acoustics while you are working.

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Why invest your time in this comic strip?

Besides being a lot of fun, Doonesbury is an insightful look into American society. In recent decades, it has delved into our love/hate relationship with technology.